Even months before FOX’s Dollhouse premiered, campaigns to save the show appeared on the Internet. Still haunted by the memories of the treatment their beloved Firefly received by the very same network, Whedon fans were desperate to see their master’s new work last. In some ways they were right to be scared. News of the pilot being reshot caused alarm bells to sound, especially when it seemed to be against Joss’s plans. Yet, the show did make it to not only air, but it carried out the complete season and got a surprising renewal.

During its first season, those “Save Dollhouse” campaigns were little heard from. Apparently, even the ratings not being so hot — and the show in danger of not getting a second season pickup — didn’t worry the fans. The renewal was granted, and there was much celebration. And Dollhouse was no longer in need of being saved.

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Dear Seth,

I just wanted to drop a line and congratulate you on basically turning Sunday nights on FOX into “Seth Sundays.” I don’t think the monopolization of a network by one person has been done since Aaron Spelling dominated ABC during the 1970s and ’80s. Of course, being the king of the Animation Domination, you are subject to criticism as well as compliment. So, I’d like to give you both.

First, the compliment. I missed much of last season’s Family Guy, so I don’t know if your tribute to the SuperFriends was done already. However, since it was new to me, I’m going to give you a virtual high-five for the intro to Sunday night’s episode. I know you’ve done this before with, for instance, your little vignette featuring the Jetsons, but I haven’t seen it done in the intro. My favorite moment was replacing the Wonder Twins intro with a simple, deadpan “Meg.”

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Dear Jon,

What the hell, dude? You know, there was a time that most of us, including myself, felt bad for the way your wife treated you. You were definitely the victim as Kate ripped you a new one for things like not using a coupon for drapes (in your new million-dollar house, which makes absolutely no sense at all). We were there for you, man! Guy Power all the way!

Then you changed. You started thinking with your other head, and everything went downhill from there. All of a sudden, Kate became Mother Teresa while you became an, well, an asshat. Now your asshattiness continues with this stupid little stunt of halting production on Jon & Kate Plus 8 because you were basically fired from the show. Very mature, Jon.

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Dear Detectives Esposito and Ryan,

I am writing this letter to sincerely apologize for not learning your names sooner. This week’s episode of Castle really helped cement your names for me, since this is the second episode in a row where you each actually had lines.

I’m almost embarrassed to admit it, but I kind of thought of you both as one guy. Neither of you had a distinct personality to me, so I just melded you into one semi-useless sidekick in two bodies. Paying the both of you for that role really wasn’t in the best interest of the producers, so I’m glad they started to delineate the differences between you.

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Dear TLC,

I hate you. Not just a figurative hate, either. This is a hate that begins at the bottom of my toes and extends to the tips of whatever hair remains on my head. It’s a hatred I save for reality shows, Rush Limbaugh, and According to Jim. In other words, things that will just. Not. Die.

You now have one of those at your network: Jon & Kate Plus Eight. After a few seasons of fake love, Jon & Kate Gosselin now hate each other as much as I hate you. Yet, the show lives on with constant new episodes where Kate and the girls visit a tea party while Jon and the boys go to a strip joint pick up a new “mommy.” This, despite the fact that fewer and fewer people are watching the show as the negative press mounts. By this time, you would think Jon & Kate would be gone off the schedule and replaced with The Real Garbage Collectors of Weehawken.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the case.

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Dear Dark Blue-ers,

What the hell? I mean, I’m sorry to use such harsh language with you, but what the hell?

I’ve been writing about this show all season; I’ve posted reviews for every episode that’s aired in this, Dark Blue’s first year. And my comprehensive coverage has garnered about six comments from beginning to end, most having to do with either The Practice, or “next week on Leverage” promos. Nevertheless, I diligently chronicled this fantastic show, because we are the counterculture, and Dark Blue is our sun. Or something along those lines.

At the same time, I mind the suggestions that come from CliqueClack headquarters about what types of features and posts we’ve been light on of late. With the convergence of one such notice, and the season finale of the still un-renewed Dark Blue, I decided to conduct a poll following my finale review. And what did I discover? Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Army Wives scribes,

What the mother of crap (Friends!) was Sunday night’s episode? A flashback episode … other people’s flashbacks, with our actors playing other roles? Really? Did you forget the high-pitched drama at the end of last week when Joan got “the call?”

I can’t imagine a single reason for this divergence, other than that it was aired out of sequence. Even so, what was your point? To show us how wives lost their husbands in World War II? Part of me is saying, “Just watch as this random episode comes back to play a major role in what’s to come before this season ends.” Even if that’s true, it does nothing for me now. Read the rest of this entry »